PEOPLE relocating to the Borders from Hong Kong “will be made welcome”, says John Lamont.

New visas open to holders of British National (Overseas) passports give Hong Kong citizens the right to live in Britain for five years and were introduced after China imposed a national security law.

This week, it was announced that arrivals from Hong Kong will be given help to access jobs, housing and schools as part of a £43m support package.

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John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirk, said: “I wholeheartedly support the introduction of a new visa route to allow those eligible from Hong Kong to come and live, work and make their home in the Scottish Borders and the rest of the UK.

“It is very welcome that the UK Government is putting support in place to help integration and provide practical support on things like enrolling at a local school or starting a new business.

“With an ageing and declining population, it is important that the Scottish Government proactively attracts those who are coming from Hong Kong to come and live here.

“I know that Hongkongers will be made welcome in the Borders just as those fleeing the Syrian regime were a few years ago."